As I was reading "To His Coy Mistress" I could not help but smile. It seemed like such a romantic poem. I know I seem like such a giddy girl (and this is a great first impression for my new blog group, haha), but it is a really beautiful poem. I loved when he describes how he would study each part of her body for thousands of years.
"An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart."
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart."
It was such a charming way for him to tell the woman how much he adores her, that he would do nothing else but study and take in her body for decades.
While some men, and even some women, might say that all he is seeking is sex, I have to disagree. Although the poem is clearly sexual, I believe that it is so much more than a physical attraction. The speaker is obviously quite in love with this woman. It is easy to see in his diction and tone. He has no intention of tricking her or using his words to have his way. He simply wants to spend the rest of eternity in her arms.
Besides the theme of love, there is also a clearly present idea of time and running out of time. He isn't worried about dying, per say. He is worried that he will not have enough time with his love. So while there are more than one theme presented in this poem, everything links back to the over-arching idea of pure love. Mark Strand says, "Love, the act of love, the pleasure it seeks might offer the illusion of sidestepping the inevitable" (Strand xx). The speaker believes that the love he and his coy mistress could share could help them live the rest of their short lives.
Isn't sappy love so wonderful? :)
Savannah,
ReplyDeleteI have to say that you are definitely not the only sappy, giddy girl of the new blog groups. I have to say that I myself am a sucker for all things romantic and sweet. :)
I really enjoyed your point of view on the poem. I feel as though it makes a lot of sense, due to the wording and tone that is present throughout the entire thing. I think I got a little too tied up in looking past the literal meaning of the words in my blog post, but your viewpoint does make a lot of sense.
I do think that time and love are often tied into each other. I feel as though a lot of people fear time when they are in love or are oblivious to time when they experience love. However, I can honestly say that I feel that Marvell is expressing a fear of time in this poem because, like you said, the man is afraid he will not have enough of it to take in everything he wants to with his love.
I think it is very interesting that you did not see the man as trying to pick up this woman and take her home! I think I related this poem to modern times and could see the scene play out in my head; a beautiful young girl is at a bar and an older man goes after her but get turned down. That's just my opinion though, I guess love must begin somewhere! One of the lines Marvell writes is, "The grave's a fine and private place,/
ReplyDeleteBut none I think do there embrace." AS I read this I kept thinking about the fact that we only have an opportunity to live in this world and no one really knows what happens after we pass on. I think that is why one of the biggest messages I took from this poem was the fact that you should love now and live life to its fullest now because there may be no one when we are dead!
Dear Savannah,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog before class this morning with some apprehension because I felt like I was ease-dropping. I was delighted Dr. Bowden gave us permission to continue reading our "old" group's comments because I have certainly enjoyed your remarks.
For the first time, I'm not on the same page with you. I'm rather cynical and pragmatic so I got a kick out of your romantic take on the poem. Good for you! It's always better to see the positive in every situation--and "sappy love" is wonderful!
Love in this poem seems to be everything to the speaker. Like you said he doesn't care about dying. All that matters is that he gets the time with his love. I do agree with you as you say that he is entirely in love with his "mistress." He is clearly adoring her and showing his love for each part of her body as though it was a treasure, like a glimmering jewel.
ReplyDelete